Hearing over Volkswagen vehicular homicide case

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Jason Thornton appeared in court this morning on vehicular homicide charges from the Volkswagen pedestrian incident.

His vehicle hit three people before dawn at the plant two weeks ago, killing one of them.

Witnesses described the scene in court, including bloody victims and a woman screaming in agony.

The lead investigator testified that Thornton told them he fell asleep behind the wheel.

One victim said Thonrton was very emotional afterwards, apologizing to them.

The investigator said there were no skid marks.

But Thonrton did not appear to be impaired so they did not perform a field sobriety test on him.

Thorton’s attorney argued that he was not criminally responsible for his actions while asleep at the wheel, but the judge disagreed.

Judge Lyla Statom bound the case over to the grand jury.